Stud

ABSTRACT

According to the present invention there is provided a stud  1  which is suitable for securing to a shoe, the stud  1  comprising, a base member  3;  a securing means  5  which extends from the base member  3,  which is suitable for securing the stud  1  to a shoe; and a stud-body  7  which extends from the base member  3,  wherein the stud-body  7  has a tapered profile and wherein the stud-body  7  is configured to comprise at least eight sides  9  to optimise the rotatability and gripping ability of the stud.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a stud and in particular, but not exclusively, to a stud which can be applied to a shoe such as a sports shoe, to facilitate gripping while permitting a desired freedom of movement.

DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

Studded shoes are used widely in sport to facilitate gripping. For example, golfers wear studded shoes to secure the position of the their feet on the ground as they swing a golf club. Additionally, soccer players and football players use studded sports shoes to facilitate their grip on the ground as they play; for example, to prevent slipping as the player suddenly changes direction.

Sports such as soccer and football require a player to move laterally and to turn quickly. The studded sports shoes in use today provide such a strong grip on the ground that the player's movement is restricted. For example, most of soccer or football boots have cuboid-shaped studs; because of their shape these studs prevent any rotation of a player's foot when the studs have engaged the ground. As the player's foot cannot rotate this can lead to injuries if the player attempts to turn quickly e.g. cruciate ligament injuries.

Older stud configurations include conical-shaped studs. While conical-shaped studs allow a player to rotate their foot, they provide poor grip, especially compared to the cuboid-shaped studs.

It is an aim of the present invention to mitigate, or obviate, one or more of the above-mentioned disadvantages.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the invention, these aims are achieved by means of a stud which is suitable for securing to a shoe, the stud comprising, a base member; a securing means which extends from the base member, which is suitable for securing the stud to a shoe; and a stud-body which has a tapered profile and wherein the stud-body is configured to comprise at least eight sides to optimise the rotatability and gripping ability of the stud.

As the stud-body has at least eight sides, the stud is configured to have a shape which is somewhat between a conical-shape and cuboid-shape. As a result the stud offers the advantages of both a conical-shape stud and a cuboid-shaped stud, thus allowing a user to rotate their foot when the stud is engaged in the ground and also providing a good level of gripping.

The “rotatability” of the stud is the degree to which a stud can rotate when it is engaged in the ground.

The rotatability of a stud is proportional to the number of sides provided in the stud-body. Thus, to increase the rotatability of a stud, the stud-body should be provided with greater than eight sides. Likewise, decreasing the number of sides provided in the stud-body will reduce the rotatability, and/or to increase the gripping ability of the stud; thus to reduce the rotatability, and/or to increase the gripping ability of a stud, the stud-body should be provided with no greater than eight sides.

The stud-body may have a curved tapered profile.

Each of the at least eight sides may have a concave profile.

The stud may comprise an intermediate-section which is interposed between each of the at least eight sides.

Each of the intermediate-sections may have a concave profile.

The stud-body may comprise a flat face.

The stud-body may be configured to taper towards the flat face.

The flat face may have a square shape with rounded corners.

The stud may comprise a transition-section which is located between an end of each of the at least eight sides and the flat face.

The transition-section may comprise at least eight sides.

The transition-section may comprise a number of sides which is equal to the number of sides provided in the stud-body.

The transition-section may comprise intermediate-sections which are interposed between each of the sides of the transition-section.

The transition-section may have a curved profile.

The transition-section may have a concave profile.

The stud-body may extends from the base member

The stud may further comprise a cuboid-shaped platform, which is suitable for co-operating with a tool which is operable to aid securing a stud to a shoe.

The cuboid-shaped platform may be interposed between the stud-body and the base member.

The securing means may be a threaded member. It should be understood that any suitable securing means may be used.

At least a portion of the length of the threaded member may extend through at least portion of the stud-body. At least a portion of the length of the threaded member may be embedded in the stud-body. This will ensure that the threaded member has a stronger co-operation with the stud-body so that the stud-body and threaded member as less likely to become separated from one another.

The cross-sectional area of the base member may be larger than the cross-sectional area of the stud-body, so that the stud is optimised for shock absorbing.

The stud may comprise at least one of PU; Polyurethane; Colorant; Greasing agent. The Greasing agent may configure the stud so that earth is less likely to adhere to the stud. The Polyurethane may configure the stud so that earth is less likely to adhere to the stud.

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a kit comprising a plurality of studs according to any one of the afore-mentioned studs.

The colours of at least some of the studs provided in the kit may differ.

The kit may further comprise a tool which is can aid securing a stud to a shoe

According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a shoe comprising one or more of the afore-mentioned studs.

Some or all of the studs provided on the shoe may differ in colour.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood with the aid of a description of an embodiment, which is given by way of example only, and illustrated by the figures, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a stud according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 provides a side view of the stud shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 provides a plan view of the stud shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF POSSIBLE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3 which show a stud 1 according to the present invention; FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the stud 1; FIG. 2 provides a side view of the stud 1; and FIG. 3 provides a plan view of the stud 1.

The stud 1 is suitable to be securing to a shoe, for example a sports shoe such as a football shoe. The stud 1 comprises a base member 3; a securing means, in the form of a threaded member 5; and a stud-body 7.

The base member 3 comprises the cross-sectional area which is larger than the cross-sectional area of the stud-body 7, so that the stud 1 is optimised for shock absorbing.

The threaded member 5 is suitable for securing the stud 1 to the sports shoe, such as a football boot. The threaded member 5 extends from within the stud-body 7 to beyond the base member 3. Thus, at least a portion of the length of the threaded member 5 is embedded in the stud-body 7; this will ensure that the stud-body 7 is less likely to become separated from the threaded member 5.

The stud-body 7 extends from the base member 3. The stud-body 7 is configured to comprise eight sides 9: four large sides and for smaller sides. Each of the eight sides 9 has a concave profile which gives the stud-body 7 a tapered curved profile. Concavity of each face is preferably provided in at least one horizontal section in a plane parallel to the base member 3. Concavity is also provided in a vertical section in any plane parallel to the threaded member 5.

As the stud-body 7 has at least eight sides, the stud is configured to have a shape which is somewhat between a conical-shape and cuboid-shape; as a results the stud 1 offers the advantages of both a conical-shape stud and a cuboid-shaped stud; thus allowing a user to rotate their foot after the stud has engaged the ground and also providing a good level of gripping.

The stud-body 7 may comprise an intermediate-section 11 which is interposed between each of the at least eight sides 9. Thus, eight intermediate-sections 11 are provided.

The stud-body 7 further comprises a flat face 13. The stud-body 7 is configured to taper towards the flat face 13. The flat face 13 has a square shape with rounded corners 25.

Additionally, the stud-body 7 comprises a transition-section 15 which is located between an end 17 of each of the at least eight sides 9 and the flat face 13. The transition-section 15 comprises eight sides 19 so that the number of sides 19 in the transition-section is equal to the number of sides 9 provided in the stud-body 7. The transition-section 15 also comprises intermediate-sections 21 which are interposed between each of the sides 19 of the transition-section 15. Thus, the number of intermediate-sections 21 in the transition-section is equal to the number of intermediate-sections 11 provided in the stud-body 7. The transition-section 15 is shown to have a curved profile, more specifically a concave profile.

Additionally, the stud 1 further comprises a cuboid-shaped platform 23. The cuboid-shaped platform 23 is interposed between the stud-body 7 and the base member 3. The cuboid-shaped platform 23 is suitable for co-operating with a tool which is operable to aid securing a stud 1 to a shoe.

The stud 1 comprises PU (Polyurethane) and a colorant. Ployurethane has been found to be advantageous since earth or mud is less likely to adhere to the stud 1. Autolubricating material, such as a material which includes a greasing agent, may also be used in order to further improve this property.

As, earth and mud is less likely to adhere to the stud 1, the grip provided by the stud 1 during use is less likely to become compromised by the collection of earth or mud on the surface of a stud 1. Furthermore, the collection of earth and mud between a plurality of studs 1 provided on a sports shoe is less likely, thus the grip provided by a sports shoe which is provided with the studs 1 is less likely to become compromised by the collection of earth or mud between the studs 1.

A plurality of the studs shown in FIGS. 1,2 and 3 may be sold as part of a kit; for example twelve or sixteen studs 1 may be sold in a package. These studs 1 may be applied to a sports shoe such as a football boot. Some or all of the plurality of studs 1 may have different colours; thus, when the studs 1 are applied to a sports shoe they will improve the aesthetics of the sports shoe and, more practically, will allow a user to personalise the sports shoe; for example a football player can personalise their football boots by selecting a particular combination of coloured studs.

The kit may also comprise a tool which has a work piece which is suitable for engaging the cuboid-shaped platform 23 in each stud 1. The tool can aid a user in rotating the stud 1 with force, so that the threaded member 5 screws into a portion of shoe, to secure the stud 1 to the shoe.

Various modifications and variations to the described embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiment. 

1. A stud which is suitable for securing to a shoe, the stud comprising, a base member; a securing means which extends from the base member, which is suitable for securing the stud to a shoe; and a stud-body which has a tapered profile and wherein the stud-body is configured to comprise at least eight sides to optimise the rotatability and gripping ability of the stud.
 2. A stud according to claim 1 wherein the stud-body has a curved tapered profile.
 3. A stud according to claim 1, wherein each of the at least eight sides has a concave profile.
 4. A stud according to claim 1, wherein the stud-body comprises a flat face.
 5. A stud according to claim 4, wherein the flat face has a square shape with rounded corners.
 6. A stud according to claim 4, further comprising a transition-section which is located between an end of each of the at least eight sides and the flat face.
 7. A stud according to claim 6, wherein the transition-section comprises at least eight sides.
 8. A stud according to claim 7, wherein the transition-section comprises a number of sides equal to the number of sides provided in the stud-body.
 9. A stud according to claim 6, wherein the transition-section comprises intermediate-sections which are interposed between each of the sides of the transition-section.
 10. A stud according to claim 6, wherein the transition-section has a curved profile.
 11. A stud according to claim 10, wherein the transition-section has a concave profile.
 12. A stud according to claim 1, further comprising a cuboid-shaped platform, which is suitable for co-operating with a tool which is operable to aid securing a stud to a shoe.
 13. A stud according to claim 12, wherein the cuboid-shaped platform is interposed between the stud-body and the base member.
 14. A stud according to claim 1, wherein the cross-sectional area of the base member is larger than the cross-sectional area of the stud-body, so that the stud is optimised for shock absorbing.
 15. A stud according to claim 1, wherein the stud comprises a greasing agent so that earth is less likely to adhere to the stud.
 16. A kit comprising a plurality of studs according to claim
 1. 17. A kit according to claim 16, wherein the colours of at least some of the studs differ.
 18. A kit according to claim 17, wherein the kit comprises a tool which is can aid securing a stud to a shoe. 